[Dixielandjazz] March of the Bobcats

[Butch Thompson]

"March of the Bobcats" is based on the trio strain of the march "Maryland My Maryland" as played and recorded by numerous New Orleans bands -- Ory, Bunk Johnson, etc etc.  The bandleader/trumpeter Kid Thomas Valentine used to play "March of the Bob Cats" whenever "Maryland" was called for, and he usually played only the trio strain with the line Yank plays on "Maryland."  Of course Crosby was on the juke boxes around New Orleans, and Thomas must have picked it up that way.  Thomas' trombonist, Louis Nelson, played the Tannenbaum/Maryland melody when he took a solo.  

Butch Thompson